(Brooklyn, NY) Brooklyn’s own Loews Kings Theatre was a place where people went to see dreams on screen, larger than life. Many celebrities who grew up in Brooklyn worked as ushers in the theater, including Sylvester Stallone and Henry Winkler. Sadly, this movie palace was sold in 1979 and later taken over by the City of New York. Thankfully on February 2, 2010, the City of New York announced a $70 million renovation to restore the Kings Theatre for use as a performing arts center.

Due to my contribution of funding, additional funding from some of my Brooklyn colleagues, and a close partnership with Borough President Markowitz and the City of New York, which provided vision, design expertise and the willingness to preserve this treasure for future generations, people will once again be able to see and realize their dreams in Brooklyn. I'm pleased to have been able to provide $3 million in funding for rebuilding this historic treasure, and I'm happy that it will be an anchor to our arts community, and a place where people can once again let their dreams lead them to success.

This theater will be the third largest in New York City. The $70 million renovation project created hundreds of construction jobs for individuals who were unemployed and it is projected to create over 50 permanent positions right in Flatbush. My vision of a new and improved Brooklyn is coming to fruition. Another key piece is in place, and I look forward continuing to partner with Brooklyn’s Borough President and the City of New York as we work on the continued cultural, economic, and educational development of this great borough.

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse community in the heart of Brooklyn that consists of 318,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Assistant Democratic Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs, and Chair of the Democratic Task Force on New Americans.